Methods and devices for encoding and decoding a data stream representing at least one image

ABSTRACT

A method for decoding a coded data stream representative of at least one image that is split into blocks. For at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block, an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block is decoded from the data stream. When the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, decoding a prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements. When the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, decoding the prediction residue associated with the current block using a second group of syntax elements, which is a subgroup of syntax elements of the first group of syntax elements.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is that of encoding and decoding images or sequences of images, and in particular video streams.

More specifically, the invention relates to the compression of images or sequences of images using a block representation of the images.

The invention can notably be applied to the image or video coding implemented in the current or future encoders (JPEG, MPEG, H.264, HEVC, etc. and their amendments), and to the corresponding decoding.

2. PRIOR ART

Digital images and sequences of images take up a lot of space in terms of memory, which requires, when transmitting these images, to compress them in order to avoid congestion problems on the network used for this transmission.

Many techniques for compressing video data are already known. Among these, the HEVC compression standard (“High Efficiency Video Coding, Coding Tools and Specification”, Matthias Wien, Signals and Communication Technology, 2015) proposes to implement a prediction of pixels of a current image in relation to other pixels belonging to the same image (intra prediction) or to a previous or subsequent image (inter prediction).

More specifically, the intra prediction uses the spatial redundancies within an image. To do this, the images are split into blocks of pixels. The blocks of pixels are then predicted using already reconstructed information, corresponding to the previously coded/decoded blocks in the current image according to the scanning order of the blocks in the image.

Furthermore, in a standard manner, the coding of a current block is carried out using a prediction of the current block, referred to as the predictor block, and a prediction residue or “residual block”, corresponding to a difference between the current block and the predictor block. The resulting residual block is then transformed, for example using a DCT (discrete cosine transform) type transform. The coefficients of the transformed residual block are then quantized, coded by entropy coding and transmitted to the decoder, that can reconstruct the current block by adding this residual block to the predictor block.

The decoding is done image by image, and for each image, block by block. For each block, the corresponding elements of the stream are read. The inverse quantization and the inverse transform of the coefficients of the residual block are performed. Then, the block prediction is calculated to obtain the predictor block, and the current block is reconstructed by adding the prediction (i.e. the predictor block) to the decoded residual block.

In U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,508, a DPCM (Differential Pulse Code Modulation) coding technique for coding blocks in intra mode is integrated into an HEVC encoder. Such a technique consists in predicting a set of pixels of an intra block by another set of pixels of the same block that have been previously reconstructed. In U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,508, a set of pixels of the intra block to be coded corresponds to a row of the block, or a column, or a row and a column, and the intra prediction used to predict the set of pixels is one of the directional intra predictions defined in the HEVC standard.

However, such a technique is not optimal. Indeed, the reconstruction of a set of pixels of the intra block corresponds either to the addition of a prediction residue in the case of a lossless coding, thus offering a fairly low compression ratio, or to the addition of a prediction residue after inverse transform and/or inverse quantization of said other set of pixels serving as a prediction. Such a technique thus does not enable each pixel of the intra block to be predicted using a local prediction function and the predicted pixel to be reconstructed before a subsequent pixel is predicted. Indeed, this technique requires a set of pixels (row/column of the block for example) to be reconstructed to predict another set of pixels. In other words, with each prediction and reconstruction of a part of the block, several pixels of the block are predicted and reconstructed.

Moreover, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,508, it is not described how to make conventional intra prediction modes as defined in the HEVC standard for example and the DPCM prediction mode coexist.

There is therefore a need for a new coding and decoding method to improve the compression of image or video data.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention improves the state of the art. For this purpose, it relates to a method for decoding a coded data stream representative of at least one image that is split into blocks, the decoding method comprises, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block:

-   -   decoding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the         current block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first         coding mode, decoding the current block comprising:         -   decoding a prediction residue associated with the current             block using a first group of syntax elements,         -   obtaining a prediction of the current block from             reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block,         -   reconstructing said current block from the prediction             obtained and said decoded prediction residue;     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a         second coding mode, decoding the current block comprising:         -   decoding the prediction residue associated with the current             block using a second group of syntax elements, said second             group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first             group of syntax elements,         -   reconstructing said current block comprising:             -   for each pixel of the current block:                 -   obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another                     previously decoded pixel, said other previously                     decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to                     a previously decoded block of the image,                 -   reconstructing said pixel from the prediction of                     said pixel obtained and the decoded prediction                     residue using the second group of syntax elements.

Thus, according to the invention, at least one part of the syntax elements of an existing coding mode can be used. This allows pooling the data processing, since the same processing unit can be used, and to reduce the implementation costs, both in terms of hardware and software.

It should be noted that according to the invention, the first group of syntax elements and the second group of syntax elements are distinct. Indeed, the second group of syntax elements being a subgroup of the first group, it comprises at least one syntax element of said first group. The second group of syntax elements differs from the first group in that it does not comprise all the syntax elements of the first group. Indeed, the second group of syntax elements comprises a number of syntax elements strictly lower than the number of syntax elements of the first group. Thus, the second group of syntax elements is a strict subgroup of the first group of syntax elements.

The invention thus adapts the coding of the prediction residue obtained according to the second coding mode to the statistic of the coefficients to be coded. Indeed, such a statistic differs from the statistic of the coefficients of the prediction residue obtained according to the first coding mode. The data compression is thus improved.

The invention also relates to a method for encoding a data stream representative of at least one image that is split into blocks. The encoding method comprises, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block:

-   -   coding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the         current block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first         coding mode, coding the current block comprising:         -   obtaining a prediction of the current block from             reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block,         -   obtaining a prediction residue associated with the current             block obtained from the prediction obtained,         -   coding said prediction residue associated with the current             block using a first group of syntax elements,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a         second coding mode, coding the current block comprising:         -   for each pixel of the current block:             -   obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another                 previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded                 pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously                 decoded block of the image,             -   obtaining a prediction residue from the prediction                 obtained for said pixel,         -   coding a prediction residue associated with the current             block comprising the prediction residues associated with the             pixels of said current block, using a second group of syntax             elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax             elements of said first group of syntax elements.

The invention also relates to a coded data stream representative of at least one image that is split into blocks. The coded data stream comprises, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block:

-   -   an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current         block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first         coding mode, a prediction residue according to the first coding         mode coded using a first group of syntax elements, the         prediction residue according to the first coding mode being         obtained from a prediction of the current block from         reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a         second coding mode, a prediction residue according to the second         coding mode coded using a second group of syntax elements, said         second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first         group of syntax elements, said prediction residue according to         the second coding mode being obtained by:         -   for each pixel of the current block:             -   obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another                 previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded                 pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously                 decoded block of the image,             -   obtaining a prediction residue associated with said                 pixel from the prediction obtained for said pixel.

Such a data stream can be stored on any storage medium, for example a memory, or transmitted in the form of an electrical or optical signal, that can be carried via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first group of syntax elements comprises location syntax elements indicating the location of a first non-null coefficient of the prediction residue associated with said current block, according to a determined scanning order of the coefficients of said prediction residue, and said second group of syntax elements does not comprise said location syntax elements.

When decoding or encoding the prediction residue of the current block according to the first coding mode, the prediction residue is scanned from the first non-null coefficient of the prediction residue to the last coefficient of the prediction residue according to said determined scanning order.

According to the particular embodiment described here, when decoding or coding the prediction residue of the current block according to the second coding mode, the prediction residue is then scanned from the first coefficient of the prediction residue to the last coefficient of the prediction residue according to said determined scanning order. This particular embodiment of the invention reduces the coding cost of the prediction residue according to the second coding mode when the first non-null coefficient corresponds to the first coefficient of the prediction residue.

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the prediction residue associated with the current block comprising at least one sub-block of coefficients, said first group of syntax elements comprises a sub-block syntax element associated with said at least one sub-block of coefficients, said sub-block syntax element indicating whether at least one coefficient of the sub-block is non-null, and for each sub-block of coefficients of the prediction residue comprising at least one non-null coefficient, a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the sub-block, said significance syntax element indicating whether or not said coefficient is null. According to this other particular embodiment of the invention, the second group of syntax elements comprises a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the prediction residue.

In other words, according to this particular embodiment of the invention, according to the second coding mode, the coefficients of the prediction residue associated with the current block are not grouped by sub-block and the sub-block syntax element is not comprised in the second group of syntax elements.

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the first group of syntax elements comprises, for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order:

-   -   a syntax element indicating whether or not the absolute value of         the coefficient is equal to 1,     -   for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the         coefficient is not equal to 1, a syntax element indicating         whether or not the absolute value of the coefficient is equal to         2,     -   for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the         coefficient is neither equal to 1 nor to 2, a syntax element         indicating the absolute value of the coefficient minus 3,     -   a syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive         or negative.

According to this other particular embodiment of the invention, the second group of syntax elements comprises for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order a syntax element indicating the absolute value of the coefficient, and said syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

The invention also relates to a decoding device configured to implement the decoding method according to any one of the particular embodiments defined above. This decoding device could, of course, comprise the different characteristics relating to the decoding method according to the invention. Thus, the characteristics and advantages of this decoding device are the same as those of the decoding method, and they are not detailed further.

The decoding device comprises in particular a processor configured, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block, to:

-   -   decode an item of information indicating a coding mode of the         current block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first         coding mode, decode the current block by:         -   decoding a prediction residue associated with the current             block using a first group of syntax elements,         -   obtaining a prediction of the current block from             reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block,         -   reconstructing said current block from the prediction             obtained and said decoded prediction residue;     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a         second coding mode, decode the current block by:         -   decoding the prediction residue associated with the current             block using a second group of syntax elements, said second             group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first             group of syntax elements,         -   reconstructing said current block comprising:             -   for each pixel of the current block:                 -   obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another                     previously decoded pixel, said other previously                     decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to                     a previously decoded block of the image,                 -   reconstructing said pixel from the prediction of                     said pixel obtained and the decoded prediction                     residue using the second group of syntax elements.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, such a decoding device is comprised in a terminal.

The invention also relates to an encoding device configured to implement the coding method according to any one of the particular embodiments defined above. This encoding device could, of course, comprise the different characteristics relating to the coding method according to the invention. Thus, the characteristics and advantages of this coding device are the same as those of the coding method, and they are not detailed further.

The encoding device comprises in particular a processor configured, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block, to:

-   -   code an item of information indicating a coding mode of the         current block,     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first         coding mode, code the current block by:         -   obtaining a prediction of the current block from             reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block,         -   obtaining a prediction residue associated with the current             block obtained from the prediction obtained,         -   coding said prediction residue associated with the current             block using a first group of syntax elements;     -   when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a         second coding mode, code the current block by:         -   for each pixel of the current block:             -   obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another                 previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded                 pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously                 decoded block of the image,             -   obtaining a prediction residue from the prediction                 obtained for said pixel,             -   coding a prediction residue associated with the current                 block comprising the prediction residues associated with                 the pixels of said current block, using a second group                 of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup                 of syntax elements of said first group of syntax                 elements.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, such a coding device is comprised in a terminal, or a server.

The decoding method, respectively the encoding method, according to the invention can be implemented in various ways, notably in wired form or in software form. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the decoding method, respectively the coding method, is implemented by a computer program. The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the decoding method or the coding method according to any one of the particular embodiments previously described, when said program is executed by a processor. Such a program can use any programming language. It can be downloaded from a communication network and/or recorded on a computer-readable medium.

This program can use any programming language, and can be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium or data medium comprising instructions of a computer program as mentioned above. The recording media mentioned above can be any entity or device able to store the program. For example, the medium can comprise a storage means such as a memory. On the other hand, the recording media can correspond to a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, that can be carried via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can be downloaded in particular on an Internet-type network.

Alternatively, the recording media can correspond to an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

4. LIST OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly upon reading the following description of a particular embodiment, provided as a simple illustrative non-restrictive example, and the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows steps of the coding method according to a particular embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates a position example of the neighbouring blocks of a current block to determine an intra prediction mode according to a particular embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 illustrates a position example of the reference pixels used to predict pixels of a current block according to a particular embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows steps of the decoding method according to a particular embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal example comprising coded data representative of at least one block of an image according to a particular embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 shows the simplified structure of a coding device adapted to implement the coding method according to any one of the particular embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 7 shows the simplified structure of a decoding device adapted to implement the decoding method according to any one of the particular embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 8 illustrates splitting the block of coefficients into sub-blocks.

5. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 5.1 General Principle

The general principle of the invention is to allow the use of one part of a group of syntax elements used to code a prediction residue obtained from a coding mode using a prediction of the pixels from at least one previously reconstructed block, to code a prediction residue from a pixel-based intra prediction, i.e. a prediction of the pixels of the block to be coded from previously reconstructed pixels of the block to be coded.

The invention thus improves the compression performance of the pixel-based intra coding mode and reduces the implementation costs of this new coding mode, in particular by making it possible to reuse one part of the syntax elements already used by another coding mode.

5. 2 Embodiments

FIG. 1 shows steps of the coding method according to a particular embodiment of the invention. For example, a sequence of images I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb) is coded in the form of a coded data stream STR according to a particular embodiment of the invention. For example, such a coding method is implemented by a coding device as described later in relation to FIG. 6.

A sequence of images I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb), Nb being the number of images of the sequence to be coded, is provided as input of the coding method. The coding method outputs a coded data stream STR representative of the sequence of images provided as input.

In a known manner, the coding of the sequence of images I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb) is done image by image according to a coding order previously established and known to the encoder. For example, the images can be coded in the temporal order I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb) or in another order, for example I₁, I₃, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb).

In a step E0, an image I_(j) to be coded of the sequence of images I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb) is split into blocks, for example into blocks of size 32×32 or 64×64 pixels or more. Such a block can be subdivided into square or rectangular sub-blocks, for example 16×16, 8×8, 4×4, 16×8, 8×16 . . . .

In a step E1, a first block or sub-block X_(b) to be coded of the image I_(j) is selected according to a predetermined scanning order of the image I_(j). For example, it can be the first block in the lexicographical scanning order of the image.

In a step E2, the encoder will choose the coding mode to code the current block X_(b).

According to the particular embodiment described here, the encoder selects the coding mode to code the current block X_(b) from a first coding mode M1 and a second coding mode M2.

Additional coding modes (not described here) can be used.

According to the particular embodiment described here, the first coding mode M1 corresponds to the coding of the current block by conventional intra prediction, for example as defined according to the HEVC standard, and the second coding mode M2 corresponds to the In-Loop Residual (ILR) prediction coding.

In step E2, the encoder can perform a rate/distortion optimisation to determine the best coding mode to code the current block. During this rate/distortion optimisation, additional coding modes distinct from the first and the second coding modes can be tested, for example an inter mode coding mode. During this rate/distortion optimisation, the encoder simulates the coding of the current block X_(b) according to the different available coding modes in order to determine the rate and the distortion associated with each coding mode and selects the coding mode offering the best rate/distortion compromise, for example according to the D+λR function, where R is the rate required to code the current block according to the evaluated coding mode, D is the distortion measured between the decoded block and the original current block, and λ is a Lagrangian multiplier, for example entered by the user or defined at the encoder.

In a step E20, an item of information indicating the coding mode selected for the current block is coded in the data stream STR.

If the current block X_(b) is coded according to the first coding mode M1, the method proceeds to step E21 for coding the block according to M1. If the current block X_(b) is coded according to the second coding mode M2, the method proceeds to step E22 for coding the block according to M2.

Step E21 for coding the block according to the first coding mode M1, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, is described below. According to the particular mode described here, the first coding mode corresponds to a conventional intra prediction, such as the one defined in the HEVC standard.

In a step E210, a quantization step δ₁ is determined. For example, the quantization step δ₁ can be set by the user, or calculated using a quantization parameter setting a compromise between compression and quality and entered by the user or defined by the encoder. Thus, such a quantization parameter can be the parameter λ, used in the rate-distortion cost function D+λ·R, where D represents the distortion introduced by the coding and R the rate used for coding. This function is used to make coding choices. Typically, a way of coding the image that minimises this function is sought.

As a variant, the quantization parameter can be QP, corresponding to the quantization parameter conventionally used in the AVC or HEVC standards. Thus, in the HEVC standard, the quantization step δ₁ is determined by the equation δ₁=levelScale[QP %6]<<(QP/6)) where levelScale[k]={40, 45, 51, 57, 64, 72} for k=0 . . . 5.

In a step E211, a prediction of the current block is determined using a conventional intra prediction mode. According to this conventional intra prediction, each predicted pixel is calculated only from the decoded pixels originating from the neighbouring blocks (reference pixels) located above the current block, and to the left of the current block. The way the pixels are predicted from the reference pixels depends on a prediction mode that is transmitted to the decoder, and that is chosen by the encoder from a predetermined set of modes known to the encoder and the decoder.

Thus, in HEVC there are 35 possible prediction modes: 33 modes that interpolate the reference pixels in 33 different angular directions, and 2 other modes: the DC mode in which each pixel of the predicted block is produced from the average of the reference pixels, and the PLANAR mode, that performs a planar and non-directional interpolation. This “conventional intra prediction” is well known and also used in the ITU-T H.264 standard (where there are only 9 different modes) as well as in the experimental JEM software available at the Internet address (https://jvet.hhi.fraunhofer.de/), where there are 67 different prediction modes. In all cases, the conventional intra prediction respects the two aspects mentioned above (prediction of the pixels from the neighbouring blocks and transmission to the decoder of an optimal prediction mode).

In step E211, the encoder thus chooses one of the available prediction modes from the predetermined list of prediction modes. One way to choose consists for example in evaluating all the prediction modes and keeping the prediction mode that minimises a cost function such as, classically, the rate-distortion cost.

In a step E212, the prediction mode chosen for the current block is coded from the neighbouring blocks of the current block. FIG. 2 shows a position example of the neighbouring blocks A_(b) and B_(b) of the current block X_(b) to code the prediction mode of the current block X_(b).

In step E212, the intra prediction mode chosen for the current block is coded using the intra prediction modes associated with the neighbouring blocks.

For example, the approach described in the HEVC standard for coding the prediction mode of the current block can be used. In the example in FIG. 2, such an approach consists in identifying the intra prediction mode m_(A) associated with the block A_(b) located above the current block, and the intra prediction mode m_(B) associated with the block B_(b) located just to the left of the current block. Depending on the value of m_(A) and m_(B), a list called MPM (for Most Probable Mode), containing 3 intra prediction modes, and a list called non-MPM, containing the 32 other prediction modes, are created.

According to the HEVC standard, in order to code the intra prediction mode of the current block, syntax elements are transmitted:

-   -   a binary indicator indicating if the prediction mode to be coded         for the current block is in the MPM list or not,     -   if the prediction mode of the current block belongs to the MPM         list, an index in the MPM list corresponding to the prediction         mode of the current block is coded,     -   if the prediction mode of the current block does not belong to         the MPM list, an index in the non-MPM list corresponding to the         prediction mode of the current block is coded.

In a step E213, the prediction residue R for the current block is constructed.

In step E213, in a standard manner, a predicted block P is constructed according to the prediction mode chosen in step E211. Then, the prediction residue R is obtained by calculating the difference for each pixel between the predicted block P and the original current block.

In a step E214, the prediction residue R is transformed into R_(T).

In step E214, a frequency transform is applied to the residue block R in order to produce the block R_(T) comprising transform coefficients. The transform could be a DCT-type transform for example. It is possible to choose the transform to be used from a predetermined set of transforms E_(T) and to inform the decoder of the transform used.

In a step E215, the transformed residue block R_(T) is quantized using for example a scalar quantization with quantization step δ₁. This produces the quantized transformed prediction residue block R_(TQ).

In a step E216, the coefficients of the quantized block R_(TQ) are coded by an entropy encoder.

For example, the entropy coding specified in the HEVC standard can be used.

In this case, the coding of the coefficients of the residue R_(TQ) works as follows.

A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. This scanning order is the same at the encoder and at the decoder. It is for example defined by default in the encoder and the decoder. It consists for example in scanning the current quantized block R_(TQ) row by row and column by column.

Syntax elements are transmitted to indicate the location of the first non-null coefficient encountered according to the scanning order. These syntax elements will be called LastX and LastY (indicating the coordinates of said coefficient in the current quantized block R_(TQ)).

The coefficients are then scanned from said first non-null coefficient to the last coefficient of the current quantized block R_(TQ). The coefficients of the current quantized block R_(TQ) are grouped into sub-blocks. For example, the coefficients are grouped into sub-blocks of size 4×4 contained in the current quantized block R_(TQ), as shown in FIG. 8 showing a transformed prediction residue block split into sub-blocks of 4×4 coefficients. Other sizes of sub-blocks are of course possible.

For each sub-block, a syntax element coded_sub_block_flag is transmitted, indicating whether that sub-block consists entirely of zeros or not. In other words, this syntax element takes the value 0 if all the coefficients of the sub-block are null and the value 1 otherwise (at least one coefficient of the subgroup is different from 0).

For each sub-block comprising at least one non-null coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is transmitted for each coefficient (located after the last coefficient of the sub-block indicated by LastX and LastY according to the determined scanning order), this syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is null or not. Such a syntax element is not transmitted for the first non-null coefficient identified by LastX and LastY since the encoder already knows that this coefficient is non-null.

For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1.

For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2.

For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is transmitted, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3.

Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is transmitted in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

In a known manner, the current block is decoded by dequantizing the coefficients of the quantized block R_(TQ), then applying the inverse transform to the dequantized coefficients to obtain the decoded prediction residue. The prediction is then added to the decoded prediction residue in order to reconstruct the current block and obtain its decoded version. The decoded version of the current block can then be used later to spatially predict other neighbouring blocks of the image or to predict blocks of other images by inter-image prediction.

Step E22 for coding the block according to the second coding mode M2, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, is described below. According to the particular embodiment described here, the second coding mode corresponds to an ILR prediction coding.

In a step E220, a local predictor PL for the current block is determined. According to the coding mode described here, the pixels of the current block are predicted by previously reconstructed pixels of a neighbouring block of the current block or of the current block itself.

Preferably, for the prediction, pixels that are as close as possible to the pixel to be predicted are chosen. This is why it is referred to as a local predictor. The local predictor PL can also be assimilated to a prediction mode of the current block associated with the second coding mode M2. According to this interpretation, in the particular embodiment described here, the first coding mode uses a first group of intra prediction modes, for example the intra prediction modes defined by the HEVC standard, and the second coding mode, here the ILR mode, uses a second group of prediction modes distinct from the first group of intra prediction modes.

The local predictor PL can be unique or it can be selected from a set of predetermined local predictors (second group of prediction modes).

According to an embodiment variant, 4 local predictors are defined. Thus, if we call X a current pixel to be predicted from the current block, A the pixel located immediately to the left of X, B the pixel located immediately to the left of and above X, C the pixel located immediately above X, as illustrated in FIG. 3 showing a current block X_(b), 4 local predictors PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4 can be defined as follows:

PL1(X)=min(A,B) if C≥max(A,B) max(A,B) if C≤min(A,B) A+B−C otherwise

PL2(X)=A

PL3(X)=B

PL4(X)=C

where min(A,B) corresponds to the function returning the smallest value between the value of A and the value of B and max(A,B) corresponds to the function returning the largest value between the value of A and the value of B.

In step E220, the local predictor PL used for the current block is determined. In other words, the same local predictor will be used for all the pixels of the current block, i.e. the same prediction function. For this purpose, several embodiment variants are possible.

The coding of the current block with each of the predictors can be simulated (similarly to an optimisation to choose a coding mode for the current block), and the local predictor that optimises a cost function (for example, that minimises the D+λ·R function, where R is the rate used to code the block, D is the distortion of the decoded block relative to the original block, and λ is a parameter set by the user) is selected.

Or, in order to limit the complexity of selecting a local predictor for the current block, an orientation of the texture of the previously coded pixels is analysed. For example, the previously coded pixels in the block that are located above or to the left of the current block are analysed using a Sobel-type operator. If it is determined that:

-   -   the orientation is horizontal, the local predictor PL2 is         selected,     -   the orientation is vertical, the local predictor PL3 is         selected,     -   the orientation is diagonal, the local predictor PL4 is         selected,     -   if no orientation emerges, the local predictor PL1 is selected.

A syntax element is coded in the data stream STR to indicate to the decoder which local predictor was used to predict the current block.

In a step E221, a quantization step δ₂ is determined. For example, the quantization step δ₂ depends on the same quantization parameter as the quantization step δ₁ that would be determined in step E210 if the current block was coded according to the first coding mode.

In a step E222, a prediction residue R1 is calculated for the current block. For this purpose, once the local predictor is chosen, for each current pixel of the current block:

-   -   the current pixel X of the current block is predicted by the         selected local predictor PL, using either pixels outside the         block and already reconstructed (and thus available with their         decoded value), or pixels previously reconstructed in the         current block, or both, in order to obtain a predicted value         PRED. In all cases, the predictor PL uses previously         reconstructed pixels. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the pixels         of the current block located on the first row and/or the first         column of the current block will use as reference pixels (to         construct the predicted value PRED) pixels outside the block and         already reconstructed (pixels in grey in FIG. 3) and possibly         already reconstructed pixels of the current block. For the other         pixels of the current block, the reference pixels used to         construct the predicted value PRED are located inside the         current block;     -   the difference DIFF between PRED and X is quantized into a value         Q(X), by a scalar quantizer with quantization step δ₂, by         Q(X)=ScalarQuant(DIFF)=ScalarQuant(δ₂, X-PRED), the scalar         quantizer being for example a nearest-neighbour scalar quantizer         such as:

${{ScalarQuant}\left( {\Delta,x} \right)} = {{{floor}\left( \frac{x + \frac{\Delta}{2}}{\Delta} \right)}.}$

Q(X) is the quantized residue associated with X. It is calculated in the spatial domain, i.e. calculated directly from the difference between the predicted value PRED of the pixel X and the original value of X. Such a quantized residue Q(X) for the pixel X is stored in a quantized prediction residue block R1 _(Q), that will be coded later;

-   -   the decoded predicted value P1(X) of X is calculated by adding         to the predicted value PRED the dequantized value of the         quantized residue Q(X). The decoded predicted value P1(X) of X         is thus obtained by P1(X)=PRED+ScalarDequant(δ₂, Q(X)). For         example, the nearest scalar quantization inverse function is         given by: ScalarDequant(Δ, x)=Δ×x.

The decoded predicted value P1(X) thus makes it possible to predict possible pixels that remain to be processed in the current block. Moreover, the block P1 comprising the decoded/reconstructed values of the pixels of the current block is the ILR predictor of the current block (as opposed to the conventional intra predictor).

The sub-steps described above are performed for all the pixels of the current block, in a scanning order that ensures that the pixels used for the prediction chosen from PL1, . . . , PL4 are available.

According to an embodiment variant, the scanning order of the current block is the lexicographical order, i.e. from left to right, and from top to bottom.

According to another embodiment variant, several scanning orders of the current block can be used, for example:

-   -   the lexicographical order, or     -   scanning the first column from top to bottom, then the column         just to the right of it, etc., or     -   scanning the diagonals one after the other.

According to this other variant, it is possible to simulate the coding cost associated with each of the scanning orders and to choose the best scanning order for the current block in terms of rate/distortion, then to code for the current block an item of information representative of the chosen scanning order.

At the end of step E222, the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) was determined. This quantized residue block R1 _(Q) must be coded for transmission to the decoder. The predictor P1 of the current block was also determined.

In a step E223, the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) is coded for transmission to the decoder. Any known approach such as the method described in HEVC can be used to code the quantized coefficients of a conventional prediction residue.

According to the particular embodiment of the invention described here, the values of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) are coded with an entropy encoder in the data stream STR using at least one part of the syntax elements used to code a prediction residue from the coding mode M1.

To code the residue R1 _(Q), a subgroup of the group of syntax elements used for the residue R_(TQ) is used.

Indeed, the statistic of the residue R1 _(Q) is different from that of the residue R_(TQ). It is therefore necessary to adapt the entropy coding of the prediction residue R1 _(Q) to this particular statistic in order to maximize the compression. However, by being limited to a syntax that is a subset of the syntax transmitted for a residue R_(TQ), it is possible to reuse the same software or hardware component, which is particularly interesting in terms of implementation cost.

According to an embodiment variant of the invention, the coding of the residue R1 _(Q) is done by omitting the syntax elements LastX and LastY and by systematically scanning all the coefficients of the quantized prediction residue block R1 _(Q).

In this case, the coding of the coefficients of the residue R1 _(Q) works as follows.

A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. The coefficients are scanned from the first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q). The rest of the entropy coding of the coefficients is similar to that described in the case of coding a transformed prediction residue from the coding mode M1.

These coefficients are grouped by sub-blocks, for example sub-blocks of size 4×4 contained in the current quantized residue block R1. Other sizes of sub-blocks are of course possible.

For each sub-block, a syntax element coded_sub_block_flag is transmitted, indicating whether that sub-block consists entirely of zeros or not. For each sub-block that contains at least one non-null coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is transmitted for each coefficient, this syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is null or not. For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is transmitted, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3.

Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is transmitted in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

According to another variant of the particular embodiment described here, the coding of the quantized residue R1 _(Q) is done by omitting the syntax elements LastX and LastY and by systematically scanning all the coefficients of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q), and by omitting the element coded_sub_block_flag. A significance value sig_coeff_flag is therefore systematically coded for each coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q).

According to this variant, the coding of the coefficients of the residue R1 _(Q) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. The coefficients are scanned from said first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) according to the determined scanning order. For this purpose, for each coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is transmitted, this syntax element indicating whether or not the coefficient is null. For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is transmitted, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is transmitted, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3. Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is transmitted in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

According to another embodiment variant, the coding of the residue R1 _(Q) is only performed using the syntax elements coeff_abs_level_remaining and coeff_sign_flag. According to this variant, all the coefficients of the block are systematically scanned and the value of each coefficient is coded. The coding of the coefficients of the residue R1 _(Q) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. The coefficients are scanned from the first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q).

For this purpose, for each coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q), a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is transmitted, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient, and for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is transmitted in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

It appears that according to all the embodiment variants described above, the coding of the prediction residue R1 _(Q) is performed from a group of syntax elements that is a non-empty and strict subset (i.e. not equal) of the syntax elements used for the “conventional” residue R_(TQ).

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, it is possible to determine and code an additional prediction residue R2 from the ILR predictor obtained for the current block. The coding of an additional prediction residue R2 is, however, optional. It is indeed possible to simply code the current block by its predicted version P1 and the quantized residue R1 _(Q).

In order to code an additional prediction residue R2 for the current block, the following steps are implemented.

In a step E224, the difference R2 between the predictor P1 and the original current block X_(b) is calculated to form an additional residue R2: R2=X_(b)−P1. The following steps correspond to the conventional coding steps for this residue R2.

In a step E225, the residue R2 is transformed using a frequency transform in order to produce the block of coefficients R2 _(T).

The transform can be a DCT-type transform for example. It is possible to choose the transform to be used from a predetermined set of transforms E_(T2) and to inform the decoder of the transform used. In this case, the set E_(T2) can be different from the set E_(T), in order to adapt to the particular statistics of the residue R2.

In a step E226, the block of coefficients R2 _(T) is quantized, for example using a δ quantization step scalar quantization. This produces the block R2 _(TQ).

The quantization step δ can be set by the user; it can also be calculated using another parameter A setting the compromise between compression and quality and entered by the user or the encoder. For example, the quantization step δ can correspond to the quantization step δ₁ or be determined similarly to it.

In a step E227, the coefficients of the quantized block R2 _(TQ) are then transmitted in a coded manner. For example, the coding specified in the HEVC standard can be used.

In a known manner, the current block is decoded by dequantizing the coefficients of the quantized block R2 _(TQ), then applying the inverse transform to the dequantized coefficients to obtain the decoded prediction residue. The prediction P1 is then added to the decoded prediction residue in order to reconstruct the current block and obtain its decoded version X_(rec). The decoded version X_(rec) of the current block can then be used later to spatially predict other neighbouring blocks of the image or to predict blocks of other images by inter-image prediction.

In a step E23, it is checked if the current block is the last block of the image to be processed by the coding method, taking into account the previously defined scanning order. If yes, the method proceeds to coding (step E25) the next image of the video, if any. If no, in a step E24, the subsequent block of the image to be processed is selected according to the previously defined scanning order of the image and the coding method proceeds to step E2, where the selected block becomes the current block to be processed.

FIG. 4 shows steps of the method for decoding a stream STR of coded data representative of a sequence of images I₁, I₂, . . . , I_(Nb) to be decoded according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

For example, the data stream STR was generated via the coding method shown in relation to FIG. 1. The data stream STR is provided as input to a decoding device DEC, as described in relation to FIG. 7.

The decoding method decodes the stream image by image and each image is decoded block by block.

In a step E40, an image I_(j) to be decoded is subdivided into blocks. Each block will undergo a decoding operation consisting in a series of steps that are detailed hereafter. Blocks can be the same size or different sizes.

In a step E41, a first block or sub-block X_(b) to be decoded of the image I_(j) is selected as the current block according to a predetermined scanning order of the image I_(j). For example, it can be the first block in the lexicographical scanning order of the image.

In a step E42, an item of information indicating a coding mode for the current block is read from the data stream STR. According to the particular embodiment described here, this item of information indicates if the current block is coded according to a first coding mode M1 or according to a second coding mode M2. According to the particular embodiment described here, the first coding mode M1 corresponds to the conventional intra prediction coding of the current block, for example as defined according to the HEVC standard, and the second coding mode M2 corresponds to the In-Loop Residual (ILR) prediction coding.

In other particular embodiments, the item of information read from the stream STR can also indicate the use of other coding modes to code the current block (not described here).

The step E43 for decoding the current block when the current block is coded according to the first coding mode M1 is described below.

In a step E430, a quantization step δ₁ is determined. For example, the quantization step δ₁ is determined from the quantization parameter QP read in the data stream STR or similarly to what was done at the encoder. For example, the quantization step δ₁ can be calculated using the quantization parameter QP read in the data stream STR. For example, the quantization parameter QP can be the quantization parameter conventionally used in the AVC or HEVC standards. Thus, in the HEVC standard, the quantization step δ₁ is determined by the equation δ₁=levelScale[QP %6]<<(QP/6)) where levelScale[k]={40, 45, 51, 57, 64, 72} for k=0 . . . 5.

In a step E431, the prediction mode chosen to code the current block is decoded from the neighbouring blocks. For this purpose, as it was done at the encoder, the intra prediction mode chosen for the current block is coded using the intra prediction modes associated with the neighbouring blocks of the current block.

The construction of both MPM and non-MPM lists is strictly similar to what was done during coding. According to the HEVC standard, syntax elements of the following type are decoded:

-   -   a binary indicator indicating if the prediction mode to be coded         for the current block is in the MPM list or not,     -   if the prediction mode of the current block belongs to the MPM         list, an index in the MPM list corresponding to the prediction         mode of the coded current block,     -   if the prediction mode of the current block does not belong to         the MPM list, an index in the non-MPM list corresponding to the         prediction mode of the coded current block.

The binary indicator and the prediction mode index are thus read for the current block from the data stream STR, to decode the intra prediction mode of the current block.

In a step E432, the decoder constructs a predicted block P for the current block from the decoded prediction mode.

In a step E433, the decoder decodes the coefficients of the quantized block R_(TQ) from the data stream STR, for example using the decoding specified in the HEVC standard.

In this case, the decoding of the coefficients of the residue R_(TQ) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined corresponding to the scanning order used at the encoder. Syntax elements LastX and LastY indicating the coordinates of the first non-null coefficient in the residue block R_(TQ) according to the determined scanning order are decoded.

The coefficients are scanned from the first non-null coefficient to the last coefficient of the block. For this purpose, these coefficients are grouped into sub-blocks of size 4×4 contained in the current quantized residue block R_(TQ). For each sub-block, a syntax element coded_sub_block_flag is decoded, indicating whether that sub-block consists entirely of zeros or not. For each sub-block that contains at least one non-null coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is decoded for each coefficient (located after the last coefficient of the block indicated by LastX and LastY), this syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is null or not. For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is decoded, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3. Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is decoded in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

In a step E434, the decoded block R_(TQ) is dequantized, for example using a scalar dequantization of quantization step δ₁. This produces the block of dequantized coefficients R_(TQD).

In a step E435, an inverse frequency transform is applied to the block of dequantized coefficients R_(TQD) in order to produce the decoded prediction residue block R_(TQDI). The transform could be an inverse DCT-type transform for example. It is possible to choose the transform to be used from a predetermined set of transforms E_(TI) by decoding an indicator from the data stream STR.

In a step E436, the current block is reconstructed from the predicted block P obtained in step E432 and the decoded residue block R_(TQDI) obtained in step E435, in order to produce the decoded current block X_(rec), by X_(rec)=P+R_(TQDI).

The step E44 for decoding the current block when the current block is coded according to the second coding mode M2 is described below.

In a step E440, the local predictor PL used to predict the pixels of the current block is determined. In the case where only one predictor is available, the local predictor is, for example, set by default at the decoder level and no syntax element needs to be read from the stream STR to determine it.

In the case where several local predictors are available, for example the predictors PL1-PL4 described above, a syntax element is decoded from the data stream STR to identify which local predictor was used to predict the current block. The local predictor is thus determined from that decoded syntax element.

In a step E441, the quantization step δ₂ is determined, similarly to what was done at the encoder.

In a step E442, the quantized residue R1 _(Q) is decoded from the data stream STR.

According to the particular embodiment of the invention described here, the values of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) are decoded from the data stream STR using at least one part of the syntax elements used to decode a prediction residue from the coding mode M1. To decode the residue R1 _(Q), a subgroup of the group of syntax elements used for the residue R_(TQ) is used. According to an embodiment variant, the decoding of the residue R1 _(Q) is done by omitting the syntax elements LastX and LastY and by systematically scanning all the coefficients of the quantized residue block R1. In this case, the decoding of the coefficients of the residue R1 _(Q) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined, corresponding to the scanning order determined at the encoder. The coefficients are scanned from the first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q). For this purpose, these coefficients are grouped into sub-blocks of size 4×4 contained in the current quantized residue block R1 _(Q). For each sub-block, a syntax element coded_sub_block_flag is decoded, indicating whether that sub-block consists entirely of zeros or not. For each sub-block that contains at least one non-null coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is decoded for each coefficient, this syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is null or not. For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is decoded, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3. Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is decoded in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

According to an embodiment variant, the decoding of the residue R1 _(Q) is done by omitting the syntax elements LastX and LastY and by systematically scanning all the coefficients of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q), and by omitting the syntax element coded_sub_block_flag and therefore by systematically decoding a value for each coefficient of the block.

In this case, the decoding of the coefficients of the residue R_(TQ) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. The coefficients are scanned from the first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q). For each coefficient, a syntax element sig_coeff_flag is decoded, this syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is null or not. For each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater1_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 1. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_greater2_flag is decoded, indicating whether or not the coefficient is equal to 2. For each coefficient that is non-null and not equal to 1 and not equal to 2, a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is decoded, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient minus 3. Finally, for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is decoded in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

According to another embodiment variant, the decoding of the residue R1 _(Q) is only done using the syntax elements coeff_abs_level_remaining and coeff_sign_flag. In this case, the decoding of the coefficients of the residue R1 _(Q) works as follows. A scanning order of the coefficients is determined. The coefficients are scanned from the first coefficient of the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) to the last coefficient of the quantized residue block R1. For this purpose, for each coefficient a syntax element coeff_abs_level_remaining is decoded, indicating the amplitude of the coefficient, and for each non-null coefficient, a syntax element coeff_sign_flag is decoded in order to indicate whether the coefficient is positive or negative.

In a step E443, the quantized residue block R1 _(Q) is dequantized using the quantization step δ₂, in order to produce the dequantized residue block R1 _(QD).

In a step E444, when the dequantized residue block R1 _(QD) is obtained, the predicted block P1 is constructed using the local predictor PL determined in step E440.

In step E444, each pixel of the current block is predicted and reconstructed as follows:

-   -   the current pixel X of the current block is predicted by the         selected predictor PL, using either pixels outside the block and         already reconstructed, or previously reconstructed pixels of the         current block, or both, in order to obtain a predicted value         PRED. In all cases, the predictor PL uses previously decoded         pixels;     -   the decoded predicted value P1(X) of the current pixel X is         calculated by adding to the predicted value PRED the dequantized         value of the prediction residue R1 _(QD), such that         P1(X)=PRED+R1 _(QD)(X).

These steps are implemented for all the pixels of the current block, in a scanning order that ensures that the pixels used for the prediction chosen from PL1, . . . , PL4 are available.

For example, the scanning order is the lexicographical order (from left to right, then rows from top to bottom).

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the predicted block P1 comprising the decoded predicted values P1(X) of each pixel of the current block forms here the decoded current block X_(rec).

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, it is considered here that an additional prediction residue was coded for the current block. It is therefore necessary to decode this additional prediction residue in order to reconstruct the decoded version of the current block X_(rec).

For example, this other particular embodiment can be activated or not by default at the encoder and decoder level. Or, an indicator can be coded in the data stream with the block level information to indicate for each block coded according to the ILR coding mode if an additional prediction residue is coded. Or further, an indicator can be coded in the data stream with the image or sequence of images level information to indicate for all the blocks of the image or of the sequence of images coded according to the ILR coding mode if an additional prediction residue is coded.

When an additional prediction residue is coded for the current block, in a step E445, the coefficients of the quantized prediction residue R2 _(TQ) are decoded from the data stream STR, using means adapted to those implemented at the encoder, for example the means implemented in an HEVC decoder.

In a step E446, the block of quantized coefficients R2 _(TQ) is dequantized, for example using a scalar dequantization of quantization step δ₁. This produces the block of dequantized coefficients R2 _(TQD).

In a step E447, an inverse frequency transform is applied to the block R2 _(TQD) in order to produce the decoded prediction residue block R2 _(TQDI).

The inverse transform could be an inverse DCT-type transform for example.

It is possible to choose the transform to be used from a predetermined set of transforms E_(T2) and to decode the item of information informing the decoder of the transform to be used. In this case, the set E_(T2) is different from the set E_(T), in order to adapt to the particular statistics of the residue R2.

In a step E448, the current block is reconstructed by adding the predicted block P1 obtained in step E444 to the decoded prediction residue R2 _(TQDI).

In a step E45, it is checked if the current block is the last block of the image to be processed by the decoding method, taking into account the previously defined scanning order. If yes, the method proceeds to decoding (step E47) the next image of the video, if any. If not, in a step E46, the subsequent block of the image to be processed is selected according to the previously defined scanning order of the image and the decoding method proceeds to step E42, the selected block becoming the current block to be processed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal example STR comprising coded data representative of at least one block of an image according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

The signal STR comprises a coded indicator TY indicating for a block of an image a coding mode for that block. When the indicator TY indicates that the block is coded according to the second coding mode, here the ILR mode, the signal then comprises values of quantized prediction residues R1 _(Q) coded using a group of syntax elements that is a subgroup of the group of syntax elements used to code values of prediction residues from the first coding mode. Such a subgroup comprises syntax elements as described in relation to FIG. 1 or 4 when the current block is coded according to the second coding mode.

The signal possibly comprises coded values of quantized transformed prediction residues R2 _(TQ). When several local predictors are possible for the current block, the signal also comprises a local predictor PL coded indicator.

When the indicator TY indicates that the block is coded according to the first coding mode, here the conventional intra prediction mode, the signal then comprises values of quantized transformed prediction residues R_(TQ) coded using a group of syntax elements as described in relation to FIG. 1 or 4 when the current block is coded according to the first coding mode, a binary indicator i_(MPM) indicating whether the prediction mode to be coded for the current block is in the MPM list or not, and an index idx_(MPM) indicating the index of the current block prediction mode in the corresponding list.

FIG. 6 shows the simplified structure of a coding device COD adapted to implement the coding method according to any one of the particular embodiments of the invention.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the steps of the coding method are implemented by computer program instructions. For this purpose, the coding device COD has the standard architecture of a computer and notably comprises a memory MEM, a processing unit UT, equipped for example with a processor PROC, and driven by the computer program PG stored in the memory MEM. The computer program PG comprises instructions for implementing the steps of the coding method as described above, when the program is executed by the processor PROC.

At initialisation, the code instructions of the computer program PG are for example loaded into a RAM memory (not shown) before being executed by the processor PROC. In particular, the processor PROC of the processing unit UT implements the steps of the coding method described above, according to the instructions of the computer program PG.

FIG. 7 shows the simplified structure of a decoding device DEC adapted to implement the decoding method according to any one of the particular embodiments of the invention.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the decoding device DEC has the standard architecture of a computer and notably comprises a memory MEMO, a processing unit UT0, equipped for example with a processor PROC0, and driven by the computer program PG0 stored in the memory MEMO. The computer program PG0 comprises instructions for implementing the steps of the decoding method as described above, when the program is executed by the processor PROC0.

At initialisation, the code instructions of the computer program PG0 are for example loaded into a RAM memory (not shown) before being executed by the processor PROC0. In particular, the processor PROC0 of the processing unit UT0 implements the steps of the decoding method described above, according to the instructions of the computer program PG0. 

1. A method for decoding a coded data stream representative of at least one image, said image being split into blocks, wherein the method comprises the following acts implemented by a decoding device for at least one block of the image, referred to as a current block: decoding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determining that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, decoding the current block comprising: decoding a prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, and reconstructing said current block from the prediction obtained and said decoded prediction residue; and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, decoding the current block comprising: decoding the prediction residue associated with the current block using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements, and reconstructing said current block comprising: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and reconstructing said pixel from the prediction of said pixel obtained and the decoded prediction residue using the second group of syntax elements.
 2. A method for encoding a data stream representative of at least one image, said image being split into blocks, the method comprises the following acts Performed by a coding device for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block: coding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determining that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, coding the current block comprising: obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, obtaining a prediction residue associated with the current block obtained from the prediction obtained, and coding said prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, coding the current block comprising: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and obtaining a prediction residue from the prediction obtained for said pixel, and coding a prediction residue associated with the current block comprising the prediction residues associated with the pixels of said current block, using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said first group of syntax elements comprises location syntax elements indicating the location of a first non-null coefficient of the prediction residue associated with said current block, according to a determined scanning order of the coefficients of said prediction residue, and said second group of syntax elements does not comprise said location syntax elements.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said prediction residue associated with the current block comprises at least one sub-block of coefficients, and said first group of syntax elements comprises: a sub-block syntax element associated with said at least one sub-block of coefficients, said sub-block syntax element indicating whether at least one coefficient of the sub-block is non-null, and for each sub-block of coefficients of the prediction residue comprising at least one non-null coefficient, a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the sub-block, said significance syntax element indicating whether said coefficient is null or not, and said second group of syntax elements comprises a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the prediction residue.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said first group of syntax elements comprises, for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order: a syntax element indicating whether or not the absolute value of the coefficient is equal to 1, for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the coefficient is not equal to 1, a syntax element indicating whether or not the absolute value of the coefficient is equal to 2, for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the coefficient is neither equal to 1 nor to 2, a syntax element indicating the absolute value of the coefficient minus 3, a syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive or negative, and said second group of syntax elements comprises for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order: a syntax element indicating the absolute value of the coefficient, said syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive or negative.
 6. A decoding device for decoding a coded data stream representative of at least one image, said image being split into blocks, wherein the decoding device comprises a processor configured, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block, to: decode an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determine that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, decode the current block by: decoding a prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, and reconstructing said current block from the prediction obtained and said decoded prediction residue; and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, decode the current block by: decoding the prediction residue associated with the current block using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements, and reconstructing said current block comprising: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and reconstructing said pixel from the prediction of said pixel obtained and the decoded prediction residue using the second group of syntax elements.
 7. A coding device for encoding a data stream representative of at least one image, said image being split into blocks, wherein the coding device comprises a processor configured, for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block, to: code an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determine that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, code the current block by: obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, obtaining a prediction residue associated with the current block obtained from the prediction obtained, and coding said prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, code the current block by: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and obtaining a prediction residue from the prediction obtained for said pixel, and coding a prediction residue associated with the current block comprising the prediction residues associated with the pixels of said current block, using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements.
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for implementing a decoding method for decoding a coded data stream representative of at least one image, when said instructions are executed by a processor of a decoding device, said image being split into blocks, wherein the instructions configure the decoding device to implement the following acts for at least one block of the image, referred to as a current block: decoding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determining that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, decoding the current block comprising: decoding a prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, and reconstructing said current block from the prediction obtained and said decoded prediction residue; and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, decoding the current block comprising: decoding the prediction residue associated with the current block using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements, and reconstructing said current block comprising: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and reconstructing said pixel from the prediction of said pixel obtained and the decoded prediction residue using the second group of syntax elements.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for implementing an encoding method for encoding a data stream representative of at least one image, when said instructions are executed by a processor of a coding device, said image being split into blocks, wherein the instructions configure the coding device to implement the following acts for at least one block of the image, referred to as the current block: coding an item of information indicating a coding mode of the current block, determining that the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode or a second coding mode; when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a first coding mode, coding the current block comprising: obtaining a prediction of the current block from reconstructed pixels of a previously decoded block, obtaining a prediction residue associated with the current block obtained from the prediction obtained, and coding said prediction residue associated with the current block using a first group of syntax elements, and when the coding mode of the current block corresponds to a second coding mode, coding the current block comprising: for each pixel of the current block: obtaining a prediction of said pixel from another previously decoded pixel, said other previously decoded pixel belonging to said current block or to a previously decoded block of the image, and obtaining a prediction residue from the prediction obtained for said pixel, and coding a prediction residue associated with the current block comprising the prediction residues associated with the pixels of said current block, using a second group of syntax elements, said second group being a subgroup of syntax elements of said first group of syntax elements.
 14. The method according to claim 2, wherein: said first group of syntax elements comprises location syntax elements indicating the location of a first non-null coefficient of the prediction residue associated with said current block, according to a determined scanning order of the coefficients of said prediction residue, and said second group of syntax elements does not comprise said location syntax elements.
 15. The method according to claim 2, wherein: said prediction residue associated with the current block comprises at least one sub-block of coefficients, and said first group of syntax elements comprises: a sub-block syntax element associated with said at least one sub-block of coefficients, said sub-block syntax element indicating whether at least one coefficient of the sub-block is non-null, and for each sub-block of coefficients of the prediction residue comprising at least one non-null coefficient, a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the sub-block, said significance syntax element indicating whether said coefficient is null or not, and said second group of syntax elements comprises a significance syntax element for each coefficient of the prediction residue.
 16. The method according to claim 2, wherein: said first group of syntax elements comprises, for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order: a syntax element indicating whether or not the absolute value of the coefficient is equal to 1, for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the coefficient is not equal to 1, a syntax element indicating whether or not the absolute value of the coefficient is equal to 2, for each coefficient for which the absolute value of the coefficient is neither equal to 1 nor to 2, a syntax element indicating the absolute value of the coefficient minus 3, a syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive or negative, and said second group of syntax elements comprises for each non-null coefficient of the prediction residue scanned according to a determined scanning order: a syntax element indicating the absolute value of the coefficient, said syntax element indicating whether the coefficient is positive or negative. 